Railway-signal.



No. 709,243. Patented Sept. l6, I902.

J. D. PRIGE.

RAiLWAY SIGNAL.

(Application filed Sept. 21, 1900.)

(No Model.)

TN: NORRIS PET!!! CO FNOTD-UTHQ, WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN PRIOE,.OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MILLER SIGNAL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 709,243, dated September 16, 1902.

Application filed September 21, 1900. Serial No- 30,674=. #No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONATHAN D. PRICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railway-Signals, of which the.

1 following is a specification.

My present invention relates particularly to the block system of railway-signals, and in its preferred form is associated with certain features of the invention described and claimed in my pending application, Serial No. 12,420, filed April 11, 1900.

My primary objects are to cheapen the cost of installation and maintenance and to pro vide additional features of safety or precaution.

The presentinvention renders unnecessary the employment of very high insulation between the electrically-separated track-rail sections and renders it practicable to indica- 'cate the condition of the second block in advance of the train without the employment of wires for the purpose, extending the length of the blocks.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein are shown one full block and two partial blocks of a track, the track equipment occurring at the block-junctions, and the equipment for one engine or car which is to traverse the track.

A represents transient or train carried mechanism; B, B, and B the track-blocks shown, andO O the similar track equipments for the two block-junctions shown.

The engine or cab equipment A comprises, preferably, clear and danger signals otand a, respectively, a common partial circuit for said signals comprising a conductor a a battery a and an armature a, supplemental partial circuits of and a, ending, respectively, in contact-points a and a permanent magnets a a solenoids a a, and conductors e (0 4, and a, leading to track-engaging wheels a a, and a, electrically connected in pairs, as shown.

Preferably one track-rail is divided into sections 1) b, separated by insulations 11 b and the other'track-rail into sections 0 and e, sepa- 0 rated by insulations 0 0 The insnlations b c are preferably opposite each other and l the insnlations b a staggered. The rail-sections 1) and c are relatively short sections, as shown. The large arrowindicates the direction of movement of' the train, and accordingly the right-hand end of each block appropriately may be called the advance end of the block.

The local equipment of each block-junction is preferably as follows: There are employed a track-battery D, connected with the advance ends of the rail-sections b and c; a signal-controlling battery E, connected with the advance end of rail-section c and with rail-section c; a pole-changing magnet F, whose solenoid is connected with the rear ends of rail-sections b and c and which is automatically controlled from the adjacent advance block; a second pole-changing magnet G, which i shown in circuit with the magnet F and which is automatically controlled froin the next advance block, and a circuit-breakingmagnet H, which is employed to detect and indicate derangement of the operative mechanism. The batt-eryD has its positive pole connected with an armature d and its negative pole with an armature d. These armatures vibrate bet-ween contact-points d d and 06' d respectively. The points d cl connect through wires d d d with the advance end of rail-section c. The points 01 (1 connect through wire (1 armature d contact d and wire al with the advance end of rail-section b. The positive pole of battery E connects with an armature f and the negative pole with an armaturef'. Armature f vibrates between contact-points f f .and armature f between contact-points f f. Points f and f connect with the advance end of rail-section c, the former '90 through a wire f and the latter through a wire f, a spring-conductorf (when closed), contact-point f, wire f and a portion of the wire f. The points f and f connect with rail-section c, the former through a 5 wire f, spring-conductor f armature f, and wire f and the latter through a wire f and a portion of the wiref. The armature f swings between the ends of a permanent horseshoe-magnet and has its po- [00 larity changed by a change in the direction of the current from the track-battery D of the advance block-junction, such as will occur when a train is in the next advance block. The solenoids F and G, as shown, are connected in series with the rear ends of railsections b and c by wires g g g. The magnet H is connected by wires h h with railsections 0' o, as shown. Supposing no train or obstruction. to be in blocks B and B currents will be l'lowing properly to keep the parts of the track mechanism in the position shown and to maintain the parts of the signalchanging mechanism in the position shown while the first block-junction shown is being crossed. In this position the positive pole of signalcontrolling battery E connects with rail-section c and the negative pole thereof with rail-section 0. Any change which may occur to reverse the connections just mentioned will so connect the battery E as to enable it to send a reverse current through the solenoids a, (1 while the train is crossingthe block-junction, thereby changing the signals. Supposinga train to be in block B, the effect is to short-circuit the track-battery D of the advance block-junction, thereby denergizing magnet F and solenoid Gin the rear of the train. The effect is to cause the armatures ff at said block-junction to fall, thereby changing the connections of the poles of battery E with rail-sections c c and also to cause the armatures 'd and'd to fall, thereby reversing the direction of the current flowing from track-battery D-through rail-section c of block B, solenoid Got the second blockjunctionin the rear of the train, and rail-section I) of block B back to the battery. The change of direction of thecurrent through said solenoid G causes the armat urej' connected therewith to shift, thereby changing the pole connections of the battery E at the second block-junction in the rear of the train, so that a train crossing said junction would receive a change in signals, indicating the presence of a train in the second block in ad- Vance-i. e., in block B. In the same manner a train in block B would change the pole connections of the signal-controlling battery E immediately in its rear, and also by changing the direction of current from the trackbattery supplying current to the block B.

is as indicated by the small arrows marked e, and the current from the track-battery D flows as indicated by small arrows 01. Thus the'local partial circuit containing the signal controlling battery for the first block-junction is shown completed through the signalcontrolling mechanism of the train, and the current passes throughf, f f, f, f ,f

1s 1s 1 11 14 17 '6 10 J' r a w a ,q .f.] f f ,f"tf", and j At all tlmes current is passing from battery E through instrument H, which siniply works in multiple with the train instrument while the engine is crossing a blockjunction. It should now be clear that when the armatures f and f of the instrument F of the block-junction in question drop, as will happen when the train passes the connections g g, the direction of the current through the corresponding instruments is reversed, since the positive pole of the battery E is thereby thrown'into connection with railsection 0 and the negative pole into connection with rail-section 0. Also the simultaneousdroppingof armaturesdand d reverses the current through that block of track in the rear of the junction under consideration, therebyafiecting the instrument G of the block-junction in the rear in the manneraI- ready described. In the position shown current passes from battery I) through dd 1 d o, instruments G and F of junction in the rear, b, (1 d, d d (1 and (31. Should the armature f be moved,'as by a train in the second advance block, it would break contact withthe springf and engage the springf thus reversing the pole connections of battery E with its rail-sections. In such event the positive pole of said battery would be connected with rail-'sectionc throughff f f f and a portion of f and the negative pole with rail-section 0 through f,f ,f ,f (at this time out of connection withf f and f. Should the insulation at c be broken down or should the battery E fail, the instrument H would be atfected and the circuit of batteryD would be broken, thereby affecting the instrument F of the next junction in, the rear and changing the pole connections of thesignal-controllingbatterythereat. In the position shown current passes through the conductors a and a of the train instrument in a direction to assist magnet a and nontralize magnet a. Should connection through (1 be broken, the train instrutnent would nevertheless receive the proper signal when the wheels a" should come to the position of wheels a, the direct-ion ot' winding-at the train instrument being the reverse for the connections a a of what it is for the connections 0, a, so that the train instrument would be properly aii'ected notwithstanding the change in direction of current therethrough. In practice the connection at at is through a part of the engine where any break is very unlikely to occur. The engine proper and its wheels may be the main portion of this connection, and the tender (properly insulated) may serve for a part of the connection 0,

The operation is clear from the foregoing description, from which it appears that the signal exhibited (here red or white light) depends upon the position of the armature a of the train instrument. When this armatn re is once brought into contact with a pole, it is maintained there till an adverse current is encountered. Thus the clear-signal,

for instance, is maintained till block-junction is encountered where the pole connections ofbattery E have been changed from the position shown. The armature a would then be moved to give the danger-signal, after which the train would proceed cautiously tillja block-junction was encountered where the pole connect-ions of battery E were in the position shown, when the'armature a) would be moved to give the clear-signal.

It is clear that with this construction it is unnecessary to employ high insulation in the track and that a vast economy is accomplished in dispensing with wires parallel to the track and connecting the track equipment of the several block-junctions.

It is evident that various train instruments may be employed in connection with the improved track equipment, and it is likewise clear that the train equipment may be replaced by local signals and suitable actuating instruments. Therefore it is not desired to limit the use of the track equipment to operation in connection with transient signals,

although said equipment is of very great value for such purpose and is, perhaps, peculiarly adapted to use in connection with the particular instrument shown.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In signal apparatus, the combination of insulated track-rail sections, a signal-controlling electric source connected with two sections located one in advance of the other, an electric source connected with the advance ends of two sections belonging to difierent track-rails, a transient signal with conductors engaging the track, one in advance of the other, and means for changing the pole connections of said first-named electric source, substantially as described.

2. In signal apparatus, the combination of insulated track-rail sections, a signal-controlling electric source connected with two sections located one in advance of the other, a

transient signal with conductors engaging the track, one in advance of the other, an electric source connectedwith a rail-section of each track-rail near the advance end thereof, and means for changing the pole connections of said second-named electric source, substantially as described. I

3. In signal apparatus, the combination of insulated track-rail sections, a signal-controlling electric source connected with two sections located one in advance of the other, a transient signal with conductors engaging, the track, one in advance of the other,asecnd electricsource connected with a rail-section of each track-rail near the advance end thereof, means for changing the pole connections of the first-named electric source with its rail-sections, and means for changing the pole connections of said second-named electric source with its rail-sections, substantially as described.

t. In signal apparatus, the combination of a track divided into blocks, each track-rail having insulated rail-sections, signal-controlling electric sources connected at the block-junctions with two rail-sections located one in advance of the other, pole-changers in the local partial circuits of said sources of energy, sources of electric energy, a transient signal with conductors engaging the track, one in advance of the other, connected with both track-rails near the advance ends of the blocks, and electromagnetic instruments controlling said polechangers andconnected with both track-rails near the rear ends of the blocks, substantially as described.

5. In signal apparatus, the combination of a track divided into blocks, each track-rail having'insulated sections, including a relatively short section at each block-junction, sources of electric energy connected with both track-rails near the advance ends of the blocks, pole-changers for the partial circuits thus formed, and electromagnetic instruments controlling said pole-changers and connected with both track-rails near the rear ends of the blocks, a transient signal with conductors engaging the track, one in advance of the other, and signal-controlling electric sources at the block-junctions and each having a connection with its adjacent relatively short rail-section, substantially as described.

6. In signal apparatus, the combination of a track divided into blocks, each track-rail having insulated rail-sections, a signal-controlling source of electric energy connected with two rail-sections at a given block-junction, a pole changer for the local partial circuit thus formed, an electromagnetic"instrument controlling said pole-changer and connected with both track-rails near the rear end of the block on the advance side of said junc-, tion, a transient signal with conductors engaging the track, a source of electric energy at the advance block-junction connected with both track-rails near the advance end of said block, a pole-changer for the circuit of said last-named electric source, and an electromagnetic instrument controlling said lastnamed pole-changer and connected with both track-rails near the rear end of the second ad vance block, the track-rails being maintained electrically continuous intermediate their points of connection with said first-named electromagnetic instrument and said secondnamed electric source, substantially as described.

7. In signal apparatus, the combination of a track divided into blocks, each track-rail having insulated sections, a transient signal with conductors engaging the track, one in advance of the other, signal controlling sources of electric energy each connected with two rail-sections located one in advance of the other, switches in the local partial circuits of said sources of energy, electromagnetic controlling instruments for said switches connected with both track-rails near the rear too ends of the blocks, switch-controllingsources of electric energy connected with both trackrails near the advance ends of the blocks, each controlling a switch for the local partial circuit of the signal-con trolling electric source located at the block-junction in its rear, and means for changing the pole connections of said switch-controlling sources of energy, substantially as described.

8. In signal apparatus, the combination of a track divided into blocks, each track-rail having insulated rail-sections, a transient signal with conductors engaging the track, one in advance of the other, signal controlling electric sources, each connected with two rails'ections located one in advance of the other, switches for the. local partial circuits thus formed, electromagnetic instruments controlling said switches connected with both track-rails near the rear ends of the blocks,

switch-controlling sources of electric energy rails near the rear ends of the blocks, additional switches for the local partial circuits of said signal-con trolling sources,and electromagnetic instrument's connected with both track-rails near the rear ends of the blocks and serving to control the movements of said last-named switches through reversals in the direction of current from said switch-controlling electric source, whereby the condition of a second advance block may be indicated at a given block-junction, substantially as described.

9. In signal apparatus, the combination of a track divided into blocks, each track-rail having insulated rail-sections, a transient signal with conductors engagingthe track, one in advance of the other, signal-controlling electric sources each connected with two railsections located one inadvance of the other and forming therewith a local partial circuit, switches for the local partial circuits thus formed, controlling instruments for said switches connected with both track-rails near the rear ends of the blocks,additional switches for the local partial circuits mentioned, controlling instruments for said additional switches connected with both track-rails near the rear ends of the blocks, sources of electric energy connected with both track-rails near the advance ends of the blocks, each serving to operate the instruments controlling the switches of the local partial circuits located at the block-j unction in its rear, polechangers in the circuits of the electric sources connected with the advance ends of the blocks, and instruments controlling said lastnamed pole-changers and connected with both track-rails near the rear ends of the blocks, substantially as described.

10. In signal apparatus, the combination of a track divided into blocks, each track-rail having insulated rail-sections, a transient signal with conductors engaging the track,

onein advance of the other, signal-controlling electric sources each connected with two railsections located one in advance of the other and forming therewith a local partial circuit, pole-changers for the local partial circuits thus hormcd, controlling instruments for said pole-changers connected with both track-rails near the rear ends of the blocks, additional pole-changers for the local partialcircuits mentioned, controlling instruments for said additional pole-changers connected with both track-rails near the rear endsof the blocks, sources of electric energy connected with both track-rails near the advance ends of the blocks, each serving to operate the instruments controlling the pole-changers of the local partial circuit located at the blockjunction in its rear, pole-changers in the circuits of the electric sources connected with the advance ends of the blocks, and instruments controlling said last named pole changers and connected with both track-rails near the rear endsof the blocks, substantially as described.

11. In signal apparatus, the combination of a track divided into blocks, each track-rail having insulated rail-sections, a transient signal with conductors engaging the track, one in advance of the other,-signal-controlling electric sources, each connected with two rail-sections located one in advance of the other and forming therewith a local partial circuit, switches in said local partial circuits,

instruments controlling said switches and connected with both track-rails near the rear ends of the blocks, additional switches in said local partial circuits, instruments controlling said additional switches and connected with both track-rails near the rear ends of the blocks, sources of electric energy connected with both track-rails near the advance ends of the blocks, switches in the circuits of said last-named sources, instruments controlling said last-named switches, each of said instruments being connected with the same rail-sections as is the signal-controlling electric source of the same block-junction, whereby a circuit for the controlling source is completed through the instrument, and pole-changers for the sources of energy connected with the advance ends of the blocks, substantially as described. c

12'. In signal apparatus, the combination of a track divided into blocks, each track-rail having insulated rail-sections, a transient signal with conductors engaging the track, one in advance of the other, signal-controlling batteries E connected with rail-sections c 0, batteries D connected with the advance ends of rail-sections b c, pole-changing armaturesff and d d vibrating between suitable contact-points in the circuits of the batteries E and D, respectively, electromagnetic instrulnents controlling said armatures and connected with both track-rails near the rear ends of theblocks, instruments G connected with both track-rails near the rear ends of the blocks, armaturesf controlled by the instruments G, contact-points in the circuits of the batteries E between which the armatures vibrate, and suitable connections whereby a reversal in the direction of current is elfected when the armaturef shifts, substantially as described.

13. In signaling apparatus, the combination of transient clear and danger signals, electrically-controlled mechanism for changing the signals, conductors leading therefrom to the track, atrack having two insulated railsections simultaneously engaged by said conductors, a signal-controlling generator connected with said two insulated rail-sections and means for disconnecting each pole of said local generator from its rail-section and conneeting the same with the rail-section of the of transient clear and danger signals, an armature controlling said signals, permanent magnets between which said armature vibrates, a set'of conductors leading to the track and engaging the same, one in advance of the other, said conductors being connected with helices for maintaining the armature in a given position, a third conductor engaging the track in the rear of said first-named conductors and connected with one of said firstnamed conductors through the medium of a helix wound to produce the same polarity as the first-named helices, a track having two insulated rail-sections simultaneously engaged by two of said conductors, a signalcontrolling generator connected with two of said rail-sections and forming therewith a local partial circuit, and means for disconnecting each pole of said local generator from its rail-sections andconnectin g the same with the rail-section of the other pole, whereby the direction of current through said train-carried conductors may be changed, substantially as described. I

15. In signal apparatus wherein are employed rail-sections separated by points of insulation, a battery connected with two railsections on opposite sides of a point of insulation, a switch in the partial circuit thus formed and an electromagnetic instrument connected with said last-named rail-sections and bridging the point of insulation between the same, said instrumentserving to hold said switch normally closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

16. In signal apparatus, the combination of insulated track-rail sections, a signal-controlling electric source connected with two sections located one in advance of the other and forming therewith a local partial circuit, an electric source connected with the advance ends of two sections belonging to different track-rails, means for changing the pole connections of said first-named electric source, transient, clear and danger signals, electrically-controlled mechanism for changing the signals, and conductors leading therefrom to the track and engaging the track, one in ad- Vance of the other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In signal apparatus, the combination of a series of blocks with suitable insulated track-rail sections, a track-battery connected with both track-rails at each block-junction, a signal, a signal-controlling battery for each block-j unction, a pole-changer for each trackbattery, and electromagnetic mechanism con nected with both rails at each block-j unction and controlling the pole-changer and the circuit of the signal-controlling battery at said block-junction.

JONATHAN D. PRICE.

Witnesses:

D. W. LEE, ALBERT D. BACCI. 

